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Woman sees family die on mountain
A 50-year-old woman has witnessed her husband and three children falling to their deaths while climbing near Europe's highest peak.
The Dutch woman watched as the four victims, who were roped together, fell 1,600ft (500m) down an icy slope in the French-Italian Alpine range.
The woman was treated in hospital for the effects of shock.
The family had been climbing Mont Dolent - part of the Mont Blanc massif - which is 12,500ft high.
"We think one of them slipped and pulled the others down," Oscar Tajola, head of the mountain rescue team in the Italian town of Courmayeur, told the Associated Press news agency.
The woman saw the accident as she descended the mountain alone by another route, officials said.
She later identified the bodies of her husband, who was 56, their 20-year-old son, and two daughters, aged 17 and 23, which were recovered by Italian mountain rescue workers. A 50-year-old woman has witnessed her husband and three children falling to their deaths while climbing near Europe's highest peak. ... more -
Dutch customs seize 19 tons of marijuana
Dutch customs officers have seized 19 tons of marijuana with a street value of 60 million euros ($98 million) on a vessel in the port of Amsterdam.
The ANP news agency quoted authorities as saying the seizure was the biggest of the century.
Police arrested four people on suspicion of drug trafficking.
The unidentified ship was carrying a cargo of walnuts in containers. The drugs were hidden in jute bags in one of the containers. Dutch customs officers have seized 19 tons of marijuana with a street value of 60 million euros ($98 million) on a vessel in the port ... more -
Money down the toilet: workers recover £700 flushed down toilet
A Dutch woman who accidentally flushed 900 euros (714 pounds) down the toilet got her money back after workers fished the bank notes from the drain.
The woman from the eastern town of Oldenzaal had just withdrawn 1,000 euros in 100-euro bills to spend on her forthcoming holiday. Nine of the notes slipped out of her back pocket and into the toilet bowl while she was relieving herself.
Realising what she had done, she called the local council. "At first my colleagues were dumbfounded, but as the woman was in such a panic they believed her," said a spokesman for the local sewage department.
Using a mini-camera designed to detect blockages in drains and sewers, workers were able to find the nine bank notes, one of which had floated 15 metres (50 ft) from the house.
The woman hung the bills out to dry before heading off on holiday with her family.
(Reuters UK) A Dutch woman who accidentally flushed 900 euros (714 pounds) down the toilet got her money back after workers fished the bank notes f... more -
Dutch smoking ban leaves some feeling dazed and confused
Cannabis smokers are feeling dazed and confused after a Dutch smoking law effectively banned tobacco from being used in joints. Millions of people flock to Amsterdam's "coffee shops" every year to legally buy cannabis and hashish over the counter and to smoke it without fear of arrest, as long as they are on the premises.
But the new law bans tobacco inside cafés and restaurants, meaning cannabis users are now forced to light up potent and heady pipes and joints loaded with pure marijuana.
Sophie, a 20-year-old student from Manchester, did not enjoy the experience of smoking neat "skunk", a powerful cannabis hybrid blamed for higher rates of mental illness among some drug users.
Cannabis smokers are feeling dazed and confused after a Dutch smoking law effectively banned tobacco from being used in joints. Millio... more -
T-Mobile Live Streams iPhone Launch from the Netherlands
T-Mobile has livestreaming video of the iPhone 3G launch in the Netherlands (outside a T-Mobile shop in Rotterdam to be precise). If you're in a timezone where the iPhone isn't on sale yet, this might help you pass the time.
[Via TUAW] T-Mobile has livestreaming video of the iPhone 3G launch in the Netherlands (outside a T-Mobile shop in Rotterdam to be precise). If y... more -
WHO results on drug use internationally - surprising, non?
A few choices excerpts:
"This study is important because it's the first time a respected international group has surveyed drug use around the world, using the same questions and procedure everywhere.
..
Some of the most striking numbers are from the Netherlands, where adults are permitted to possess a small of marijuana and purchase it from regulated businesses. Some U.S. officials have claimed that these Dutch policies have created some sort of decadent cesspool of drug abuse, but the new study demolishes such assertions: In the Netherlands, only 19.8 percent have used marijuana, less than half the U.S. figure.
Even more striking is what the researchers found when they asked young adults when they had started using marijuana. Again, the United States led the world, with 20.2 percent trying marijuana by age 15. No other country was even close, and in the Netherlands, just 7 percent used marijuana by 15 -- roughly one-third of the U.S. figure." A few choices excerpts: ... more -
"No tobacco in your joint" say the Dutch
Customers may smoke only pure cannabis spliffs. The owners claim the law, which will allow customers to light up potent tobacco-free pure cannabis joints but ban milder spliffs in which tobacco is mixed with cannabis, threatens to put hundreds of them out of business.
Wouldn't this be like saying you have to stick to straight spirits? Customers may smoke only pure cannabis spliffs. The owners claim the law, which will allow customers to light up potent tobacco-free p... more -
The Dutch ban public smoking tommorrow.
Following the lead of Ireland which took a tough stance against tobacco in 2004. The Dutch will join the list of European countries that ban smoking in cafes and restaurants.
How will this effect their tourist industry? Following the lead of Ireland which took a tough stance against tobacco in 2004. The Dutch will join the list of European countries th... more -
Amsterdam gets Europe's first mobile Wimax network
A commercial network launched in Amsterdam on Tuesday is the first in Europe to use a mobile version of the Wimax standard to allow users to surf the Web at high speeds while on the move, operator Worldmax said.
he broadband wireless network is aimed at competing with telecoms operators KPN, Vodafone, and T-Mobile .
It is similar to using a mobile phone network and differs from networks using earlier Wimax technology which required users to be stationary.
Worldmax, whose investors include Intel and Greenfield Capital, would not reveal financial or subscriber targets.
A commercial network launched in Amsterdam on Tuesday is the first in Europe to use a mobile version of the Wimax standard to allow us... more -
mooning gone wrong...
a man in Netherlands injures his butt mooning .......a joke gone...
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Dutch imams promoting 'shared' values
Imams in Dutch mosques usually preach the same virtues & values in their sermons commonly accepted by other Dutch people (which is important) according to a recent study.
Fred Leemhuis, professor of Arabic at Groningen University points out:
"The image of Dutch imams is based on comments by two or three radical salafi [fundamentalist] Imams, who continually turn up in the media. We wanted to find out what Dutch mainstream imams are really preaching. And, in particular, which virtues they're commending to their congregations."
SERMONS ANALYSED
The sermons of six randomly chosen Dutch Imams from different ethnic backgrounds who were also extensively interviewed were analysed by Mr Leemhuis & Anand Blank.The study shows that the opinions of the imams are very moderate and hardly differ from those of other Dutch people.
"What is noticeable about the sermons of the imams is that a large majority represent a kind of moderate middle-of-the-road orthodoxy. Not extreme either one way or the other."
ORIENTATED TOWARDS NETHERLANDS
The study showed the imams are more orientated towards Netherlands as they come up with the same problems and solve them in the same way. They also use the same sources when they write their sermons. Mr Leemhuis cites an example in the shape of the book entitled: 'Gardens of the virtuous people'.
"A beautiful, pious collection of stories about the life of the prophet Mohammed which is also available in Dutch."
SAME VIRTUES
According to Mr Leemhuis the virtues that the Imams present to their audiences are the same as the ones that score high among other groups of Dutch people: respect, consideration, reliability and openness.
Two virtues stand out in their sermons: the necessity of good neighbourliness and showing respect towards others.
"Most imams say in their sermons and in interviews that the main thing is to be a good neighbour."
SHARED OPINIONS
Mr Leemhuis believes the shared opinions of Muslims and other Dutch people about virtuous behaviour provide a good opportunity for Dutch politics:
"If you want to promote the integration of Dutch Muslims and non-Muslims, you have to emphasise the things they have in common and things they can identify with."
Imams in Dutch mosques usually preach the same virtues & values in their sermons commonly accepted by other Dutch people (which is... more -
Most People Blowing Whistles Simultaneously
Sunday 18 May 2008, Guinness World Records adjudicator, Kristian Teufel was in the Netherlands to witness a record breaking attempt for the most people blowing whistles simultaneously.
The attempt took place at Walbi World theme park in Biddinghuizen during the Dutch Socialist Party’s annual family fun day, with the motto for the day being “I play”. The record was planned to be the only the beginning of the stage show and the days festivities.
For Full Story Read Online at
http://www.worldamazingrecords.com Sunday 18 May 2008, Guinness World Records adjudicator, Kristian Teufel was in the Netherlands to witness a record breaking attempt fo... more -
Man nesting giant egg on side of Rotterdam Tower
Yes, that's right. A giant egg, in a giant nest, on the side of a tower in Rotterdam, and a guy is nesting in there. It's an art project called the "Great Swallow." Gulp. Yes, that's right. A giant egg, in a giant nest, on the side of a tower in Rotterdam, and a guy is nesting in there. It's an art proje... more
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Famke Janssen - Turn The River (newest movie)
Limited release May 9
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Dutch General loses his son in roadside bomb blast
The son of the new head of the Dutch armed forces was killed in Afghanistan with a fellow soldier when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb.
Lieutenant Dennis van Uhm, 23, was returning to his base after a large-scale reconnaissance mission in the southern province of Uruzgan yesterday when the blast occurred.
General Peter van Uhm was just made commander of the Dutch armed forces at a ceremony last Thursday. The son of the new head of the Dutch armed forces was killed in Afghanistan with a fellow soldier when their vehicle hit a roadside bo... more -
Bike2Oz -(Episode 02) Cycling 12,000km
Choosing to pedal rather than fly the 12,000km from Oxford to Sydney.
Lowanna & Kevin cycle past the luxury airliners at Schiphol airport into strong headwind, through storm damaged forests onto the Swiss Alps .
Another 18months (and 14 episodes) and they will be in Australia via Iran, Pakistan India and Singapore.
Join the trip on http://www.bike2Oz.com Choosing to pedal rather than fly the 12,000km from Oxford to Sydney. ... more
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